Pretty Arts for Leisure Hours. By E. A. Davidson. (Chapman
and Hall.)—Modest books, like modest people, are apt to under-rate themselves, and in this case the title of the book gives but a poor idea of its real value. Not that it is by any means a scientific treatise on art, or even a complete exposition of the artistic employments it so skilfully describes ; but all its directions point—as directions, to be of value, always should—to the acquirement of the great principles under- lying all art, rather than to a Mere mastery of details. This, with the constant references to accurate observation of the processes of nature and appearances of natural objects, will make it a good companion for ladies of leisure, who will find that leather-work—which, if taken to as a poor imitation of wood-carving, is a mere sham—is here put in its right place, and as a pretty ornamentation only, becomes both ad- missible and interesting. Ladies who have strong wrists might soon learn to become good wood-carvers from the chapter on that subject, and the one on " Toys, and How to Make Them," is well worth the attention of ingenious mothers and aunts.
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